Holidaymakers hiring a car this summer could find they end up paying more than they had bargained for thanks to sneaky charges, costly insurance and unnecessary extras.

One of the ways in which drivers can end up getting stung is by less scrupulous firms trying to charge for bumps and scrapes they didn’t cause.

Exclusive new findings in a YouGov survey, commissioned by iCarhireinsurance, show that more than one in five people who have hired a car said they had found damage on the car which was not highlighted on the check-out sheet.

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“If you fail to alert the hire company to this when you pick up the car, you could find that you are charged for it,” warned Ernest Suarez from iCarhireinsurance.

“Any damage to a hire car, can lead to you having to pay the first part of the cost of repair, up to the excess amount. This could be as much as £2,000 in some cases.”

And it isn’t just on pick-up that drivers need to be vigilant, as further findings reveal a quarter of motorists have had to return their hire car without seeing a representative from the firm.

“With 7% of renters believing they have been wrongly accused of damaging a rental car, not getting it signed off by a company rep is a risky move that could end up costing a small fortune,” added Suarez.

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2 - Staff giving the hard sell on “car hire excess insurance”

"I'm not letting go of your hand until you take the insurance..." (Image: Getty)

Staff at the rental desk will often insist that you buy extra cover, knowns as “car hire excess insurance”. This can be bought to protect drivers from having to pay the first part of a claim if the hire vehicle is damaged.

The problem is, policies from rental companies can be expensive – and could add €15-20 a day to the cost of your hire – plus they often come with exclusions, such as damage to windows, tyres and the undercarriage.

How to avoid getting ripped off

Look into purchasing car hire excess insurance in advance from a cheaper standalone provider, as these policies usually offer much better value. Providers include iCarhireinsurance.com and Protectyourbubble.com. Also visit Travelsupermarket.com/en-gb/car-hire/excess-insurance/ .

3- Being forced to pay extra charges on pick-up

€60 or you don't get the key (Image: GETTY)

As well as being told that you have to buy insurance, less scrupulous firms may also tell you that you must pay extra locally for breakdown services, or extra cleaning.

How to avoid getting ripped off

“Read the rental contract carefully when collecting the car,” said Rory Sexton from Economy Car Hire.

“If there are any concerns or surprise changes, this is the time to raise them. While some companies expect you to sign the rental agreement before you can read it, don’t be bullied into signing anything until you are ready to do so.”

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4 - Getting stung by a “collect full, return empty” policy

One of the most common care hire cons involves a firm insisting that you pay for a full tank of petrol when you pick up your car – and that you return the vehicle empty.

This is a big issue for one in 10 car hirers, according to Travelsupermarket.com.

While this may seem like an attractive offer you can often end up being charged more than it would have cost to fill up at a local petrol station, plus it can be hard to return the car empty.

This will mean you are left out of pocket, as there’s no refund for bringing the car back with fuel in the tank.

How to avoid getting ripped off

“Try and choose a firm which allows you to return the car with the same amount of fuel you had when you picked it up,” says Bob Atkinson from Travelsupermarket.com. “This means you won’t be charged an inflated price for the petrol, and won’t pay for fuel you haven’t used.”

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6 - Being forced to pay over the odds for extras

(Image: Getty)

If you decide to hire a sat-nav from the car hire company, you could find yourself faced with having to pay around €10-15 a day. You could also pay through the nose if you need to hire a car seat for your child.

How to avoid getting ripped off

The far cheaper option is to bring your own car seat and satnav with you.

“You can now buy a sat-nav for around £80, so even if you are only going on holiday for a week, it makes more sense to buy your own and take it with you,” said Sexton.

“Equally, by taking your own baby seat, you can be sure of knowing how to fix it correctly. Most airlines will let you put a car seat and a buggy in the hold for free.”